There is little success where there is little laughter - Andrew Carnegie

Post Sixteen Curriculum

Core Academic LearningAll pupils have programmes of study that offer appropriate learning opportunities in the areas of English, Maths and ICT. In higher ability groups discrete lessons in Literacy, Maths and ICT are provided. Lower ability pupils receive discrete lessons in literacy/communication as a priority with elements of numeracy being delivered through practical life skills activities such as shopping or cooking. Communication development for some lower ability pupils is further developed through the provision targeted intervention ‘Talking‘ and Makaton signing groups. English and Maths provision extends up to 3 hours each week for the most able students and most students get some discrete ICT teaching each week. For the less able students ICT provision is embedded within their programmes aimed at developing communication skills. We also promote the core academic areas of the curriculum (English, Maths and ICT) on a cross-curricular basis in recognition of the importance of these core elements and as part of our continued drive to raise standards. Cross-curricular literacy is promoted through a requirement to include links to literacy in all other subjects MTPs.Post 16 programmes of study for English and Maths for most students are derived from the Skills for Life programme. These programmes extend from Entry Level 1 to Level 2 thus providing coverage for all but the least able of our students. The Maths programme of study is further supported by reference to OCR Functional Skills Programmes of Study which provide a complete and balanced programme of study for Maths. The Skills for Life programmes of study are set in a life skills context and therefore provide a relevant and meaningful learning for our pupils. They also provide a programme of study compatible with the accreditation opportunities that we operate in Post 16 through OCR Functional Skills and OCR Life and Living Skills units.ICT programmes of study for the more able students have been developed linked to OCR Functional Skills ICT. For less able students and in particular our sensory learners activities are planned on the basis of individual need often linked to the development of communications skills and using a suite of graded specialist software with outcomes accredited using OCR Life & Living Skills.

Personal DevelopmentOpportunities for learning in terms of personal development are widespread and varied throughout our curriculum. All Post 16 students have weekly PSHE lessons in which they follow a programme of study mapped out in a three year rolling programme. More able students also have weekly lessons working towards the ASDAN Personal Development Programme (Bronze, Silver & Gold). Our most able students also receive weekly Employability/Careers Education Information & Advice (CEIA) lessons. Each week there is a ‘Thought for the Week’. Each school day commences with a period of registration/tutor time which includes time to reflect upon that particular week’s Thought. All pupils participate in weekly Relationships & Sex Education lessons supported by the Special Needs School Nursing Team (SNSNT). All pupils spend one afternoon each week in mixed ability groups from across the entire school working on Performing Arts which culminate in bi-annual public performances. Physical Education including dance is included in the weekly carousel of activities. We have a weekly celebration assembly led by the Headteacher or senior staff member in which we celebrate pupil’s achievements and reflects on the Thought for the Week and also introduce the Thought for the following week. The personal development curriculum is also supplemented by a diverse and regular calendar of activities linked to charities, visits and events such as the Children in Need and Red Nose Day. Another feature of our personal development programme is the provision of various specialist services delivered by external agencies such as a girls’ Hand in Hand group and a Social Use of Language group delivered in conjunction with the Social Services, SNSNT and the Speech & Language Service. We also offer Travel Training for many pupils.

AccreditationAll Post 16 pupils are given opportunities to achieve external accreditation as outcome from their academic study. The qualifications obtained are an important motivator for our students, contribute to developing their self-esteem and play an important part in each pupil’s onward transition to college. For all students in Year 14 opportunities are provided to undertake accreditation. OCR Functional Skills qualifications are available in English, Maths and ICT at Entry Level 1, 2 & 3, Level 1 & 2. These Functional Skills qualifications are undertaken usually in years 13 & 14 in a measured way to allow pupils progression in their final years before leaving school. For lower ability pupils who are unlikely to be successful with Functional Skills, we also operate OCR Life and Living Skills modules. These OCR LL&LS modules are more focused on specific skills areas than the more academically demanding Functional Skills qualifications. OCR Life & Living Skills modules feature a 10 stage Entry 1 Achievement Continuum which makes these qualifications accessible to a greater number of our students. OCR Life & Living Skills modules are also available to provide for all our pupils accreditation in a wide range of vocational subjects featured within our Post 16 programme.

Please do not hesitate to contact our Deputy Head Mr Richard Malir if you require further information.

Introduction

Post 16 at Beechcliffe School comprises the school years 12, 13, and 14 and is the equivalent to most secondary school’s sixth forms. One distinction is our three year Post 16 programme includes a year 14 which means that most of our pupils do not leave until the academic year of their 19th birthday.Beechcliffe has adopted the government’s curriculum strategy for 14-19 Study Programmes. Students should follow a programme that stretches them, prepares them for adulthood, and supports their progression into work or further study. Our programme features academic learning, vocational study and personal development. Beechcliffe School provides a range of appropriate learning opportunities in each of these areas.

Structural factors in the organisation of Post 16 Curriculum.Pupils are taught at different times in both mixed ability groups reflecting the generic nature of the school and also in ability based groups for certain subjects. Within Post 16 pastoral tutor groups are vertically streamed by age but are grouped by broadly similar ability. For core academic subjects namely English, Maths and ICT, ability based groups operate comprised of pupils of different ages with the group make up being determined by the pupil’s ability. For activities Vocational activities groups are of mixed ability. For Performing Arts lessons the groups are of mixed ability and are vertically streamed containing pupils from across the entire age range of the school 11-19.Teaching is delivered from differentiated programmes of study planned to meet the learning needs of the pupils within each group, or is planned to meet the learning needs of individual students in the case of more complex sensory learners. Teaching across the Foundation Learning curriculum is planned for using a system of long term curriculum plans that are broken down into Medium Term Planning (MTP) units which outline the learning objectives and learning activities on a half-termly or term by term basis.

Vocational StudyAll Post 16 students participate in a range of vocational studies to provide them with opportunities to develop their life skills and independence. These activities also give pupils opportunities to study in mixed ability groups. Students have cooking lessons each week and then also participate in a programme of activities which currently includes horticulture, community work, enterprise cookery, craft/textiles, life skills, music, Sports Leaders. These activities are supported by the programmes of study from the OCR Life & Living Skills Modules and ASDAN Bronze Award which give validity to our vocational programme.We have a group of students studying for a Level 1/Level 2 Sports Leaders qualification with a tutor from Bradford Disability Sports.Pupils also participate in college based placements at Leeds City College, Keighley which offers a carousel of vocational courses – Travel & Tourism, Joinery, Catering & Hospitality, Public Services, Motor Vehicles and Hair & Beauty.

Additional needs - supplementary CurriculumAs appropriate we meet the diverse additional needs of our students using our specialist facilities and trained staff within hydro, rebound and sensory rooms and mobile sensory equipment. NHS physiotherapist, Occupational Therapists and Orthotists works in school each week and a Level 4 SNTA is designated to deliver physical therapy programmes. CAMHS and Social Care regularly provide support to pupils in school. Staff are extensively trained for the administration of medicines, pump feeding, moving and handling, personal care and other essential procedures.

AssessmentIn Post 16 we following the whole school programme for assessment. We make summative assessments of all pupils’ attainment twice within the year using P Levels and PIVATS. This assessment provides the data with which we measure each pupil’s progress. These assessments also inform the setting of suitably challenging individual learning targets for each subject for both the year and Key Stage. Achievement data is also used to inform programmes of learning interventions used to maintain pupil’s progress as required. In Post 16 PIVATS is used to provide assessments in English, Maths and Personal Social Development. In anticipation of the need to assess the continuing progress of a small group of the most able students we also use the National Curriculum Assessing Pupil Progress (APP) format. Assessment of lower ability students will continue with the use of PIVATS and the P levels but can now be supplemented by indications from the Achievement Continuum within OCR’s Life & Living Skills Entry 1 modules which provides a 10 point scale to register pupil’s attainment and progress.

TransitionThroughout their final years in school we provide an extensive programme of support for pupil’s onwards transition from school. Pupil’s final Annual Reviews or EHCP Reviews are prioritised within the autumn term to allow action plans for transition to be put in place suitably early. In the autumn term each year we organise a Careers Fair and we attend annually a regional Careers Fair out of school. In the summer term each year we arrange visits to our local colleges namely Leeds City College (Keighley Campus), Craven College and Shipley College and other locations to inform and support the student’s applications. We operate very strong links with to our local Council’s Careers Advisor but also other relevant agencies such as Supported Employment, Keighley Volunteers, Keighley and Craven People First. The Deputy Headteacher is always available to support pupils and their families in preparation for transition.